Unanimous vote; June 1st start date
Hudson County vote set for Thursday January 28th
The Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders unanimously approved resolution 10-064 establishing the Somerset County Homeless Trust Fund on Tuesday January 26, 2010.
Somerset is the fifth county to establish a trust fund.
Hudson County’s Board of Chosen Freeholders will vote to establish a Homeless Trust Fund on January 28, 2010.
Brock Haussamen of IHN, Freeholder Patricia L. Walsh and Salvatore Lalama of IHN.
Resolution 10-064, sponsored by Freeholder Walsh included two stipulations. The first is that the Trust Fund Task Force must report to the Board of Chosen Freeholders every six months. In addition, the resolution has a three year sunset provision. Freeholder Director Jack M. Ciattarelli expressed confidence that by “working together the freeholders and the community can make the Trust Fund work and that it will be renewed in three years.”
Three members of NJANEH spoke about the need for the Trust Fund prior to the vote. They were Michael Armstrong of Community Hope, Brock Haussamen of IHN and Salvatore Lalama of IHN.Freeholder Director Jack M. Ciattarelli thanked the three speakers and said “we were a solid five votes in favor before you spoke but we are now even stronger supports of this legislation.” We have audio of their comments and those of Freeholder Director Jack M. Ciattarelli.
The four other counties that have established a trust fund are: Passaic, Union, Middlesex and Bergen.
The Trust Fund Act allows counties to create and fund their own programs to end homelessness. The trust funds will provide some of the additional funds necessary to move homeless or formerly homeless individuals toward the goal of permanent affordable housing and self-sufficiency.
Click on the map on the right to view our interactive map that tracks progress in adopting the Trust Fund.
A county is allowed to collect the small sum of $3 for each document that must be filed by law with the county and they have to have developed their own plan to end homelessness that the money will support. The legislation permits counties to establish the funds. It does not require them to establish one.
